End of Summer after the Rain

Can't believe that it's the end of summer already....so here's a few pictures of Washington Square Park. the redo is almost complete and they've done a wonderful job.

Using Old things in a New Way

Since I'm on a mixing kick here are a few rooms that are primarily filled with antiques and vintage items but are entirely modern.

The billiard's room above is upholstered in violet velvet there's a nice wet bar in the corner and a leather Chesterfield supplies good seating.

A white washed table  holds Celedon tray and two large covered urns create a nice triangle. The Raj painting in a vintage frame echos the colors. The Industrial cabinet to the right acts as storage.

The bedroom here is extremely simple but has a pretty glamorous look. Plain plaster walls, linen curtains and stylish tables and benches make for great look. A vintage Chinese rug anchors the room.

What I'm Looking at Today: William IV, Art Deco and Mid century

 I like lots of periods and styles, the important thing is quality....decoration is a visual art, so mixing things together as long as they're not mixed up is what it's all about. Im looking at this fine pair of ormolu candlesticks from the early part of the 19th c....William IV period. the chasing is very fine. there's a crispness to the carving and since they used mercury the gilding is still very bright.

Below is a mid Century English Watercolor. I love the colors and movement and I especially love that it was framed in a period Federal frame. the simple matt allows it to float in time.

The last piece that is a very architectural cabinet. French from the 1930's or 40's

The color and finish are very fine as are the lines.

I'm looking forward to helping them all live happily ever after.....

High Style in Gladwynne

So I had posted a room of Lilly Pulitzer fabrics the other day and I got a good many comments on FB including that 'this is what hell must look like' which made me laugh a good bit.....now, although it's not for me, a long time ago one of my teachers at Parson's did say that there was no such thing as bad taste, just different taste or things used incorrectly. It took me a long while to understand that but I do.....

Going in the exact opposite direction is the project that I've posted below. A very high style house in Gladwynne Pa....part of the 'Mainline' and if ever there were a place filled with one plaid, one check and one flowered print...that would be it but, the couple who hired me to help wanted something a bit more chic and cool and we've been working on the house for about two years now.....it's all one of antiques, totally custom and they've been great.....with, I think, pretty great results.

The Entrance Hall has a nice seating area anchored by antique Swedish prints and a settee. The pillow is made of an antique textile from the King Tut craze of the last century.

The Living room is a study in  soft and subtle color variation...cool and warm play off of each other to make an almost off but right on combination....slightly Vogue Regenecy meets Emma Peel. The 19th c iron pots live on rusted iron based French columns made of raw wood.

A great piece of coral on the Japanese cocktail table and Regency chairs done up in Bergamo silk

The Dining room has green glazed walls and a wonderful old yew wood table. The chairs have been upholstered in Cowtan and Tout yellow herringbone linen and detailed with green French guimp. The chandelier had come from the previous decorator but changed completely once we simplified the room. Fancy curtains in the style of John Fowler are Cowtan and Tout.

There's a wonderful 15th c Flemish tapestry from Christie's along one wall of the dining room . I love the leopard...the artist had obviously never seen one.....

 We carved this dressing room out of an unused hall/sitting room. The French chandelier is early 

19th c from Victor Carl, the plaster table is from the 40's and we topped it with slate. 

The bed room is upholstered in antique moire, we were lucky to find just enough to do the walls and curtains. Silver candlesticks from Christie's were electrified and sit on 19th c French tables. The only art in the room is a set of four 19c reliefs of the seasons by  Bertel Thornvaldsen .

We've come a long way from Victorian wicker and OTT French Country ...... still looking for a few bits and pieces to finish but, they will have a wonderful home....

A Snappy Room: From the Queen of Prep.....Lilly Pulitzer

 I love stories like these....smarts and gumption and a great eye make good......Who knew that working in a juice stand in Palm Beach would create an Empire......Ms Pullitzer found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes. Seeking to camouflage the juice stains, she designed a sleeveless shift dress made of bright, colorful printed cotton. Lilly found that customers loved her dress, so she produced more in order to sell them at her juice stand. Eventually, she was selling more dresses than juice, and decided to focus on designing and selling what had become known as her "Lillys"  

We now have an Endless Summer in Ms Pulitzer's home collections

Snappy color and whimsical accessories make for a fun room 

                                                        

even the games and drinks are color coordinated.......!

What I'm looking at Today: Napoleon III Chairs

There's nothing worse than a room of entirely new furniture. Doesn't matter the style that you're going after, a room filled with all new is like a one note perfume....can be cheap.....That's why I like mixing new and old upholstery and I especially like stylish French chairs. Although I'm not a fan of the Victorian Style, I do like the lines on Napoleon lll furniture, especially once it's been streamlined and stripped of its excess.

A nice pair of library chairs with turned arms, not too overstuffed and I like the ebonized legs.

Once the crushed velvet comes off these will be very mod..maybe a nice wool.....

I like the curve of the arm that turns into the back. I don't mind fringe on this chair.

These look like Gibson Girls right now but they'd be very stylish in a plain linen

These look a little bit like terriors but again once the lines are exposed they will look very stylish.

Good little slipper chair. I like that the back looks like a Turkish pillow.

Similar pair of chairs, both are a great size, not too big not too small...would be wonderful in a bed room.

Remember.........Great decorating is like throwing a great party, it's always a good idea to diversify the guest list. Now go have fun.

What I'm Looking at Today: Things Italian and a few not

Greetings and Salutations All

I've been silent for a bit but, only because I've been very, very busy working on completing a large project in Westchester....will post pics soon.

Next month we're off to Venice for La Bienalle's closing and then a few days in Paris as a chaser, so I'm thinking Italy right at this moment and although the items are not 'Venetian', they are Italian or at least Italian feeling......

A painting of an Auto da Fe.....poor Savanarola, he should have just embraced the Renaissance...I often wonder how many great paintings and works of art and decoration were destroyed.....oh well.....always remember ' just say yes to art!'

Above is a view of Florence, I like the Ushak rug because it reminds me of the painting.

Wonder how stylized this painting is and what must this poor creature truly looked like?

A more pleasant afternoon at the Piazza della Signoria the only things burning are the nice folks dressed in all those layers...Italy is hot hot hot.....how did they stay cool?

I like this little bench. I have a thing for long animal shaped legs .....and I think this would be great in an Italian inspired hall.

It's raining today so I suppose I'm feeling a little 'enchanted April' ....hope this little trip to Italy will do the trick....if not I only have a few weeks for the real thing.